Louis Alter

Louis Alter
Born	(1902-06-18)June 18, 1902 Haverhill, Massachusetts
Died	November 3, 1980(1980-11-03)(aged 78) Saint Clare's Hospital (Manhattan)

Louis Alter(June 18, 1902 – November 3, 1980) was an Americanpianist,songwriterandcomposer.At 13, he began playing piano in theaters showingsilent films.He studied at theNew England Conservatory of Musicunder the tutelage of Stuart Mason.

Biography

He was born on June 18, 1902, inHaverhill, Massachusetts.

Alter played invaudevillehouses as the accompanist for the headlinersIrène BordoniandNora Bayes.He appeared with Bayes from 1924 until her death in 1928, touring the United States and abroad.Since he had previously written some songs forBroadwayshows, Alter decided to concentrate on songwriting after her death. His first hit was "Manhattan Serenade"(1929), originally an instrumental that later became the theme music of theEasy Acesradio program. There are numerous recordings of "Manhattan Serenade" and it was featured prominently in Nancy Groce's book,New York: Songs of the City(Watson-Guptill, 1999). Alter recalled, "I was a great fan of Whiteman when I first came down here from Boston. He was the first big name I actually followed around and met. I was having a love affair with New York when Whiteman commissioned me to write a tone poem. I walked around this city for six months absorbing the sights and sounds. And then suddenly it came to me. Once I plunged into it I finished it in two hours."

Films and Broadway

In 1929, Alter moved toHollywood,where he wrote songs for films, beginning withThe Hollywood Review of 1929.He continued to provide piano accompaniment for various singers, includingBeatrice LillieandHelen Morgan.His contributions to Broadway musicals included songs inSweet and Low(1930) andBallyhoo(1931).

His first song hit was "Hugs and Kisses" in 1926. In 1928, he composed the music and wrote the lyrics ofParis.Other top tunes by Alter include "My Kinda Love","You Turned the Tables on Me","Nina Never Knew","Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans"(for the 1947 filmNew Orleans), "Blue Shadows" and "Rainbow on the River". He wrote "A Melody from the Sky" and "Twilight on the Trail" forThe Trail of the Lonesome Pine(1936). His collaborators includedOscar Hammerstein II,Charlotte Kent, Raymond Klages,Sidney D. Mitchelland Jo Trent.

World War II and later years

In 1941, Alter signed on with the United States Air Force, performing for troops and also co-ordinating shows and other entertainment at West Coast air bases. As a piano soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he performed at the Hollywood Bowl. In 1942, "Manhattan Serenade" once again became a hit afterHarold Adamsonadded lyrics.

Alter also composed large-scale pieces for piano and orchestra, includingAmerican SerenadeandMetropolitan Nocturne.In later years, he lived in New York and maintained a summer residence onFire Island.

Awards

Twice nominated forAcademy Awards( "Dolores", "A Melody from the Sky" ), he was inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Famein 1975.

Death

He died on November 3, 1980, aged 78, of pneumonia atSaint Clare's HospitalinManhattan, New York City.

Hurricane Katrina

AfterHurricane Katrina,his song "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans" took on a different kind of meaning in 2005–06 and experienced a revival due to its use in various post-Katrina documentary films and TV shows. It was used for strong emotional effect inSpike Lee's four-hour filmWhen the Levees Broke(2006) and an equally moving dramatic sketch byBilly Crystalon HBO'sComic Relief 2006.

Orchestral compositions

• American Serenade
• Jewels from Cartier Suite
• Manhattan Masquerade
• Manhattan Moonlight
• Metropolitan Nocturne
• Side Street in Gotham
• "Manhattan Serenade"

Songs

• "Blue Shadows"
• "Circus" (1949). Alter wrote the song with lyrics byBob Russellfor a party forJohn Ringling North,head of theRingling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
• "Dolores"
• "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans"
• "Give Trouble the Air" (1927)
• "Hugs and Kisses" (1926)
• "Overnight" (1930)
• "Manhattan Serenade"
• "A Melody from the Sky"
• "My Kinda Love"
• "Nina Never Knew"
• "Rainbow on the River"
• "You Turned The Tables On Me"

External links

• Louis Alterat theSongwriters Hall of Fame
• Louis Alterat theInternet Broadway Database
• Louis AlteratIMDb

Listen to

• Jazz violinist John Frigo playing Louis Alter's "Nina Never Knew"
• Tommy Dorsey: "Manhattan Serenade"